HIGHLIGHTS BY DA GAME SHOW HOST DAVE WARD

Another one of Maui’s many unique, affordable, challenging public courses. Another wind course (as most are on Maui) cut out of the Central Maui hillside. It gives you a lot of sloping fairways and a constant 10-15 mile/hour wind that will absolutely play havoc with your shots.

All of the par 5s are reachable in two if you are bold and precise enough with fairway woods. Depending on the wind conditions, the downhill, par 3, 13th hole can play anywhere from sand wedge to 5 iron—good luck figuring that out!

OVERVIEW

For scratch golfers, playing from the tips is a breeze at only 6,554 yards, which is why it is rated as the island’s 5th easiest. Bogey golfers playing from the ‘whites’ are experiencing the Maui median USGA Slope Rating; the course is halfway between the most and least difficult we have. Not so for lady bogey golfers who play the red tees: it is the 2nd most difficult for them on Maui.

0

HOLES

0

PAR

0

SLOPE

0

YARDS

TEE-TO-GREEN

Length is short, and it effectively plays that way. Roll is ample with many downhill tee shots. Elevation changes and strong winds are regular staples, and while the fairways seem wide, there is minimal rough to save your ball from running into a kiawe, which borders the entire course. Holes are designed with wind in mind. The topography is very hilly, and an uneven lie or stance is likely on nearly half the holes. Bunkers in fairways are less penal obstacles on the par 4s than they are on the par 5s. The greens are smaller targets than usual and deep bunkers guard them. Water comes into play on two holes. Putting is straightforward in that there are no extremes.

DIFFICULTY

HAZARDS AND ROUGHS

GREEN SIZES

EDITOR’S NOTES

This is a reasonably priced venue in usually great shape with views and a design that was created by one of the best. The course is located on a slope that is perched above Central Maui, where it can be very gusty. But that is golf and this is a great golf course.

FOR THE MEEK

ROOM FOR ERROR

WOW FACTOR

FACILITIES AND AMENITIES

Kahili’s beautiful pro shop shows off stellar views while providing guests with bountiful choices when it comes to gifts and other golfing necessities. Chef Eddie Munoz offers daily fresh fish, lunch specials, and Japanese specialties along with a wide variety of sandwiches and salads, homemade soups, and one of Maui’s best burgers. Other facilities include: grass teed range with target greens, practice bunker and pitching green, putting green, and on-course beverage service.

0

LO°

0

MEAN°

0

HI°

0

RAIN

CONCLUSIONS

This is one of five value-priced venues on Maui and probably, all things considered, the best of them. It gets windy here but not like Maui Nui. It isn’t as tough as The Dunes. It isn’t as far away or as mediocre a design as Pukalani, and it isn’t full of sixsomes like you’ll find at Waiehu.

The course does blow as the day heats up, and the fairways get tight in places, there is even OB, which comes into play in some odd places. Still, if the fog isn’t too heavy, and you play well, this is a course where great memories can easily be had.